Summary

Catch crops of different species (legumes (I), legume and non-legume mixtures (II), grasses (III), herbs (IV), without (V)) lead to yield increasing (potato tuber) and also to yield decreasing effects (silage maize) of the subsequent crops. Main reason for these results seems to be differences in the C/N rations, so that especially in organic farm-ing the catch crops have to plough under in a relatively young growth stage. Over this, most catch crop species have had small but significant increasing effects on the con-tents of N, P, K, Mg and further ingredients of the following crops.